Rail Garnish Geometry for Reduced Hatchback Door Sight Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional vehicle upper structures exhibit a larger sight gap between the rail garnish and the hatchback door due to the vertical alignment of the wall portion of the rail garnish, which does not align with the movement path of the hatchback door, leading to an unsightly gap when the door is opened or closed.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle upper structure incorporates a rail garnish with a base along the roof side rail and a wall portion that extends downward, featuring an inclined upper end and rear side surface designed to follow the movement path of the hatchback door, made of resin for easier molding, thereby reducing the sight gap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wall portion of the rail garnish is extended vertically downward to prevent contact with the opening hatchback door, then the reliability is improved, but the sight gap between the rail garnish and the closed door becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The rear side surface of the wall portion is designed with a curved shape that follows the movement trajectory of the hatchback door during opening and closing operations. This curved configuration allows the wall portion to maintain proximity to the door throughout its range of motion, preventing contact while minimizing the sight gap when the door is closed.
2Shape
If the wall portion is positioned to minimize the sight gap with the closed door, then the shape is improved, but the risk of contact with the opening door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved rear side surface of the wall portion traces the arc-shaped movement path of the hatchback door, enabling the design to simultaneously achieve minimal sight gap in the closed position and adequate clearance during opening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall portion's rear side surface is designed to adapt dynamically to the door's movement trajectory, optimizing the clearance relationship between the rail garnish and door at various opening angles rather than maintaining a fixed vertical distance.
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle upper structure has a hatchback door and a rail garnish covering the roof side rail. The rail garnish is provided along the roof side rail and includes a base whose rear end extends to near the front end of the hatchback door (upper end) in the closed state, and a wall portion that extends downward from the rear end of the base. The upper end of the rear side surface of the wall portion is sloped backward.